A forgotten Hammer Noir steps into the light: ‘Mantrap’ comes to 4K

Hammer Films digs back into its shadowy post-war past with Mantrap, a sleek, early-1950s crime thriller from Hammer stalwart Terence Fisher, arriving on home entertainment for the very first time in a newly restored 4K edition. Set to hit shelves on 13th April, this long-overlooked noir curiosity is available to pre-order now—and it’s looking better than ever.

Headlined by the effortlessly suave Paul Henreid (Casablanca), Mantrap casts Henreid against type as a former intelligence officer turned reluctant private detective. Adapted from a best-selling novel by Elleston Trevor, the film weaves post-war paranoia, dry wit, and classic noir sensibilities into a distinctly British tale of deception and murder.

Mervyn Speight (Kieron Moore) escapes from prison after serving two years for the murder of an ex-mistress—a crime he insists he did not commit. Determined to clear his name and expose the real killer, Speight turns to private detective Hugo Bishop (Henreid). As Bishop digs deeper, he finds himself pulled into a dangerous web of lies, murder, and misplaced loyalties—where uncovering the truth may prove just as deadly as the crime itself.

Shot on location across bomb-scarred London streets still bearing the wounds of the Blitz, Mantrap leans heavily into atmosphere—using its devastated cityscapes to mirror the moral greys at the heart of the story. It’s a film steeped in shadow and suspicion, where trust is fleeting, and nothing is quite what it seems.

Director Terence Fisher – best known for redefining Gothic horror with The Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Mummy – brings a surprising snap and urgency to this crime outing. Mantrap also reunites Fisher with Henreid following their earlier collaboration on Stolen Face, offering a fascinating bridge between Hammer’s noir-tinged early years and the studio’s genre-defining future.

This release doesn’t just dust off Mantrap; it gives it the full premium treatment. The set includes both the original UK cut, Mantrap, and the US release, Man in Hiding, presented across two discs (one UHD and one Blu-ray) with content mirrored on both formats for maximum flexibility. Restored in 4K from the original film negatives and graded with HDR for improved contrast and fine detail, the film has never looked this good. On the audio side, the restoration offers noticeably enhanced clarity while respecting the original sound design, giving viewers the choice between the restored original mono track or a newly created 5.1 mix. The entire restoration has been handled by Hammer’s award-winning partners at Silver Salt Restoration, ensuring this noir deep cut finally gets the care it deserves.

Special Features:

• New audio commentary with James Harrison, co-director of Film Noir UK, and Sergio Angelini, film and television historian and podcaster.
• New commentary with Toby Roan, cult cinema writer, and Heath Holland, host of the Cereal at Midnight podcast.
• What’s in a Name: featuring crime writers Martin Edwards, Mike Ripley, and Barry Forshaw, explores author Elleston Trevor and the origins of the story.
• Caught in the Act: A handsome leading man during the silent film era, John Stuart latterly appeared in several Hammer Films in supporting roles. Jonathan Croall, Stuart’s son, discusses his father and his work.
• Behind-the-scenes footage shot on 8mm at Bray Studios during production, alongside a stills and publicity gallery.
• Film Noir experts Imogen Sara Smith and Sergio Angelini, along with Hammer scholar Wayne Kinsey, discuss Hammer’s Brit Noir output and its relationship with pure American Noir.
• Hammer expert Wayne Kinsey joins Dark Corners Reviews’ Robin Bailes for a tour of Mantrap’s London locations.
• Commissioned essays by Wayne Kinsey, Miriam Balanescu, Pamela Hutchinson, Neil Sinyard, Sarah Morgan, and Sergio Angelini, examining the film’s production, themes, and place in Hammer’s crime-era output.

A vital slice of British noir history, Mantrap’s 4K debut finally gives this underrated Hammer gem the spotlight it deserves. Pre-order your copy here.